Royals stadium proposal

Jackson County residents will decide Tuesday, Sept. 30, on whether to recall County Executive Frank White Jr. Proponents and opponents shared their perspectives ahead of the vote, and explain what will happen if White gets recalled.

Early voting is beginning in the Sept. 30 recall election for Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. Supporters of the recall are upset about how White handled property assessments. Opponents say the construction lobby is trying to clear the path for “sweetheart stadium deals.”

Jackson County voters will cast ballots on Sept. 30 in a special recall election targeting County Executive Frank White Jr. On Up To Date, the county executive defended his efforts to work with legislators but said some of his colleagues are determined to keep him from accomplishing things.

Earlier this year, an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals acquired the mortgage on the Aspiria campus, seemingly confirming the team’s interest in the one-time Sprint headquarters as a possible stadium site.

His sales tax proposal would give one pot of money to the Chiefs, another pot to Jackson County for courthouse improvements and a third pot to University Health. White was among the most vocal critics of last year's failed stadium sales tax proposal.

Even the poorest-drawing baseball teams can attract more than 1 million fans in a year, far more than any football stadium. As Kansas and Missouri continue their border war over Kansas City sports teams, should they be focused on courting the Royals over the Chiefs?

Taxpayers in Kansas and Missouri still don't know if they'll be asked to help fund the stadiums for the Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. The lack of transparency and public participation from the teams has some people questioning if a deal is in their best interest.

The Kansas City Royals need to get moving if the team wants a new stadium by 2031. Decision makers in Jackson County, Clay County and North Kansas City do not want to repeat the mistake of working out details after it’s been placed on a ballot.

Kansas City Chiefs president Mark Donovan asked Kansas officials to alter the deadline for a state incentive package “in light of substantial progress the Chiefs have made in discussions” about building a new stadium, headquarters, or other facilities across state lines.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce hosted an online presentation downplaying the border question days before teams must decide on Kansas stadium offer.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals are weighing competing incentive packages offered by Missouri and Kansas to help fund new stadiums. There's a wave of professional sports teams that are seeking upgraded homes.

The bill is a response to action from Kansas, which passed legislation offering to pay 70% of the cost of building new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. While the teams called Missouri’s plan competitive, neither has committed to staying.